I was speaking to a member of the General Assembly last year in the wake of a series of ethics scandals that led to the former speaker of the House resigning, and he said, "We've passed an ethics bill that greatly expands the disclosure of campaign finance and lobbyist spending."

After hearing arguments last week from a coalition of immigration attorneys and civil-rights organizations seeking to block implementation of Georgia's new immigration law (HB 87), which went into effect July 1, U.S. District Judge Thomas Thrash issued his ruling Monday afternoon.

The Coastal Regional Commission recently unveiled a tentative plan to retrofit 13 of its coaches to run on compressed natural gas or propane. The change, of course, was designed as a cost-saving measure as alternative fuels cost between $1.75 and $2 per gallon compared with gas prices of around $3.50 per gallon. But let's not forget the strategy's added benefit of being environmentally friendly. The CRC should be commended for using energy conservation to help save money and the planet, and more mass transit systems should follow the commission's lead - it may not be all ...

Each year, more than three trillion miles are traveled on America's roads, with a considerable amount of those - more than 113 billion -- occurring right here in Georgia. Our location and excellent road network means Georgia serves as a prime connecting route for vacationers and for freight movement. Georgia is the main route by which tourists from all over the USA and Canada reach popular year-round southern vacation destinations. And when we add the increasing numbers of tractor trailers traveling throughout the state, our roads are usually crowded.

Sixty-five new laws took effect in our state on Friday. New laws like immigration and Sunday alcohol sales have gotten much media attention since they were approved by lawmakers and signed by Gov. Nathan Deal.

July 4, 1776. On this date, we became "We the People." Thirteen colonies declared their independence from England, becoming the United States of America; and it is the only country to be organized where the people are in charge, not the government. The people of this country do not answer to a king, emperor or emir.

While making a project presentation some years ago, a person in the audience commented that I was biased. Initially, I interpreted the comment as being negative or that my professional ethics needed to be reexamined.

After hearing arguments last week from a coalition of immigration attorneys and civil rights organizations seeking to block implementation of Georgia's new immigration law, HB 87, set to go into effect Friday, U.S. District Judge Thomas Thrash issued his ruling Monday afternoon.

June 29, 2011|
By State Sen. Buddy Carter
Special to the News
|Opinion

On Feb. 18, a group of citizens headed to the State Capital for "Conservation Day," hoping to inform legislators about protecting our precious coast and its wildlife. The Dolphin Project was represented by Gerry Sattele and me, from Richmond Hill, and Chris Hines of Savannah.

I recently was proud to announce that the 63rd Expeditionary Signal Battalion will be restationed at Fort Stewart, bringing 492 soldiers and their families to the post. The 63rd Expeditionary Signal Battalion's mission focuses on rapidly deploying worldwide to engineer, install, operate, maintain and defend in support of full-spectrum operations. The 63rd Expeditionary Signal Battalion is the U.S. Army's contribution to the Global Information Grid.

February 18, 2015|
By U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter
Special to the News
|Opinion

Twelve years ago, I made a decision to follow my head, not my heart, and put my career first. I'd just completed my first post-college internship at the Abilene Reporter-News in Texas and, having impressed my supervisor, was offered full-time employment at the end of my three-month stint.

Editor, On Dec. 16, 1773, demonstrators destroyed an entire shipment of tea in the Boston Harbor in protest of taxation without representation. Today, we have ultra-taxation with representation. At the rate that we are going, we will just sign over our employment checks and accept the spending money that our government gives us.

If you watched the Super Bowl a couple of weeks ago - and reports say that 114 million of us did - perhaps you saw a portion of the reprehensible behavior of Seattle wide receiver Doug Baldwin who, after scoring a touchdown, proceeded to mime pulling down his pants and squatting as if on a commode, before dropping the ball to the ground as if using the restroom. The NFL fined Baldwin $11,000, which has to be chump change to this boor. Astonishingly, the incident has gotten very little mention in the media. You can bet this kind of obscene showboating ...

The Georgia Senate had a busy week. We held numerous committee meetings to review legislation and listen to testimony either opposing or supporting bills being considered. The committee process is where the bills are vetted before being considered by the Senate, and it is a crucial part of the legislative process.

February 11, 2015|
By State Sen. Ben Watson
Special to the News
|Opinion